As well as using car interior cleaning products, car air fresheners are needed sometimes. There’s nothing worse than sitting in your car one day only to find a deeply horrid smell consuming your senses. There can be a smell that’s so bad that each time you get into your car, you wish you didn’t have to make that journey. Not even the best upholstery cleaner can get rid of the strong whiff. Happily, however, help is at hand. You can easily tackle the worst of smells with our guide to the best ways to get your car smelling nice again.
If you are suffering from a stinky car interior, there are a few types of air fresheners available to you, from traditional trees hanging from your mirror and disks clipped to air vents to smell-neutralising bombs. The choice is yours.
Having said that, we recommend that your first port of call is giving your car’s upholstery and interior a proper clean. If you have leather seats, give them a good going over with leather cleaner. This is because the best way to prevent nasty odours is to get rid of them at the source rather than merely covering the symptoms.
The best car air fresheners at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Fumebar Discovery 2.0 – buy from Fumebar UK
Easiest to use: Turtle Wax Odor-X Twin Pack – buy from Turtle Wax UK
Most subtle: Febreze Car Clip Air Freshener – buy from Amazon
If you are already up on your cleaning tasks and utilise some interior dressing, you might be able to easily locate the offending origin of the smell. But if you can’t, your car could do with an air freshener equipped to purify the cabin.
The best car air fresheners
Editor's pick
The device is an aluminium capsule that attaches to your in-car vent. Inside, a scent refill sits, producing a smell that we described in our review as “deliciously luxurious.” Scent choices include Dark Rum, Clove and Tobacco, and Scotch Whisky and Incense. The FUMEBAR is vegan, free from plastic, and hypoallergenic. Even the packaging is biodegradable.
Pros
- Luxurious scents
- Eco-friendly design
Cons
- Won't fit in all air vents
Best simple air freshener
Then, you place the can inside the car and press firmly to release the spray. Leave it for 10-15 minutes, and you should return to a refreshed vehicle. Flavours such as cherry blossom and lavender are also available if that's what you fancy.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Comes in different flavours
Cons
- They become empty after each use
The best sweet-smelling air freshener
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Affordable
Cons
- Some of the scents are an acquired taste
The best air freshener for a really bad odour
Leave it to air out for a couple of minutes afterwards, and you'll have an odour-free interior and a nice scent that lasts a couple of weeks.
Pros
- Removes stubborn smells
- Incredibly powerful
Cons
- One-time use
Most subtle air fresheners
They're not the most thorough solution if your car really needs a good clean-out, but they can help maintain a fresh scent when you enter your vehicle.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Can last a while each
Cons
- Not as thorough as others
The best air freshener for odour removal
Pros
- Very effective at removing bad smells
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not scented
The best natural air freshener
Pros
- Fully reusable
- Helps remove allergens from the air
Cons
- Doesn't emit a scent
The best luxurious air freshener
Rrp: $123.95
Rrp: $123.95
Pros
- Adds a touch of class to your car
- Luxurious scent
Cons
- Scent disappears rather quickly
The most stylish air freshener
Pros
- Looks great
- Lasts a while
Cons
- Packaging isn't the best
The best budget air freshener
Pros
- Good value for money
- Weill remove smells
Cons
- Scent isn't very refined
FAQs
How long do you want it to last?
Most air fresheners are designed to last between three and four weeks before they need replacing. But longer-lasting products are available but will subsequently cost more. Single-use products like freshener bombs may well last for a couple of weeks and give your cabin a boost. But they aren’t designed to smell good for long periods of time.
What do you want it to smell like?
Scent is totally subjective, and there are plenty of options for all sorts of tastes. The sweeter smells of Jelly Belly may entice some. However, tastes do differ, and will remind others of minicabs on the way back from a night out. We’ve even done a review of the FUMEBAR Boost to find out what that’s like.
Others may be interested in no scent at all. If you have a sensitive nose there are options that will simply eliminate bad odours. If it’s a case of your car interior simply needing a good clean, Autoglym’s vinyl and rubber care might be the way to go.
Is hanging a car air freshener from the rearview mirror illegal?
In the UK, there isn’t a specific law that outright bans hanging items such as car air fresheners from the rearview mirror. However, the Highway Code does address issues related to driver visibility and obstruction. For example, Highway Code Rule 30: This rule states that drivers must ensure they have a full view of the road and traffic ahead, which implies that anything obstructing the view can be problematic.
While there’s no explicit law against hanging an air freshener from the rearview mirror, it can still be considered illegal if it significantly obstructs the driver’s view. This decision is often left to the discretion of the police. To avoid any potential issues, it’s a good idea to ensure that any objects hanging from the rearview mirror do not obstruct your view of the road. If you are concerned, you might consider placing the air freshener in a less obstructive location, such as attaching it to an air vent.
How often should I change my car air freshener?
This can depend on several factors, including the type of air freshener, the environment in which you drive, and your personal preference for the strength of the scent. Generally speaking, hanging air fresheners will last 3 to 6 weeks, as will vent-clip air fresheners. Gel-based and plug-in fresheners, which could last up to three months.
In the end, it’s really down to personal preferences, usage and climate. Warm temperatures can cause the scent to dissipate faster. Your sensitivity to smells and preference for strong or subtle scents can be a factor, and higher-quality products might maintain their scent longer than cheaper alternatives
Why do new cars smell so good?
The distinctive “new car smell” that many people find appealing is primarily due to the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the materials used in the vehicle’s interior. Plastics, adhesives, fabrics, leather and foam all contribute to the overall scent.
Off-gassing is the release of VOCs from solid materials. In a new car, these compounds are at their highest concentration, which creates the strong, distinct smell. Over time, the concentration of these compounds decreases as they evaporate, causing the new car smell to fade.
How we choose
All of these car air fresheners have been hand-selected by our team of experts who have spent hours investigating and researching car air fresheners to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we’d never recommend a product we don’t believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
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